"Vernor Vinge - A Deepness in the Sky" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vinge Vernor)

years ago he made some kind of a name for himself.тАЭ A figure that had come from nowhere, with a
moderate amount of money and an uncanny flare for self-advertisement. In a period of thirty years, he had
gathered the support of several major corporations and even the favor of the Forestry Department.
тАЬDucanh claimed to be a city-person, but he was no freedom fighter. He wanted to spend money on some
crazy, long-term scheme. What was it? He wanted to . . .тАЭ The private investigator looked up from his
reading to stare a moment at Sammy. тАЬHe wanted to finance an expedition to the OnOff star!тАЭ

Sammy just nodded.

тАЬDamn! If he had been successful, Triland would have an expedition partway there right now.тАЭ The
investigator was silent for a moment, seeming to contemplate the lost opportunity. He looked back at his
records. тАЬAnd you know, he almost succeeded. A world like ours would have to bankrupt itself to go
interstellar. But sixty years ago, a single Qeng Ho starship visited Triland. Course, they didnтАЩt want to
break their schedule, but some of DucanhтАЩs supporters were hoping theyтАЩd help out. Ducanh wouldnтАЩt
have anything to do with the idea, wouldnтАЩt even talk to the Qeng Ho. After that, Bidwel Ducanh pretty
much lost his credibility.. . .He faded from sight.тАЭ

All this was in TrilandтАЩs Forestry Department records. Sammy said, тАЬYes. WeтАЩre interested in where this
individual is now.тАЭ There had been no interstellar vessel in TrilandтАЩs solar system for sixty years.He is
here!

тАЬAh, so you figure he may have some extra information, something that would be useful even after whatтАЩs
happened the last three years?тАЭ



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 A DEEPNESS IN THE SKY

Sammy resisted an impulse to violence. A little more patience now, what more could it cost after the
centuries of waiting? тАЬYes,тАЭ he said, benignly judicious, тАЬit would be good to cover all the angles, donтАЩt
you think?тАЭ

тАЬRight. YouтАЩve come to the right place. I know city things that the Forestry people never bother to track. I
really want to help.тАЭ He was watching some kind of scanning analysis, so this was not completely wasted
time. тАЬThese alien radio messages are going to change our world, and I want my children toтАФтАЭ

The investigator frowned. тАЬHuh! You just missed this Bidwel character, Fleet Captain. See, heтАЩs been
dead for ten years.тАЭ

Sammy didnтАЩt say anything, but his mild manner must have slipped; the little man flinched when he
looked up at him. тАЬI-IтАЩm sorry, sir. Perhaps he left some effects, a will.тАЭ

It canтАЩt be. Not when IтАЩm so close.But it was a possibility that Sammy had always known. It was the
commonplace in a universe of tiny lifetimes and interstellar distances. тАЬI suppose we are interested in any
data the man left behind.тАЭ The words came out dully.At least we have closure тАФthat would be the
concluding line from some smarmy intelligence analyst.

The investigator tapped and muttered at his devices. The Forestry Department had reluctantly identified
him as one of the best of the city class, so well distributed that they could not simply confiscate his